Update on Styx Valley Tasmania

[Guest guest]

$1.5m Styx boom concept

BY JOHN BRIGGS

26feb01

 

THE battle for the Styx Valley took a new turn yesterday with the Wilderness

Society producing an independent study supporting saving some of the world's

biggest trees for tourists and not chainsaws.

 

The report, prepared by former state Labor minister and town planner Robert

Graham, predicted 20,000 visitors, 30 jobs and an injection of $1.5 million

into the Derwent Valley economy in the next five years with minimal

investment.

The idea was endorsed by tourism entrepreneurs Joan Masterman and Tim

Morris.

 

The Wilderness Society's Tim Graham, no relation to the report's author,

said the report was independent and vindicated the society's calls to

protect the area dubbed the Valley of the Giants.

 

" The report says the Styx Valley is unique and nowhere else in Australia are

such visitor experiences available and readily accessible. "

 

In calling again for a national park for the valley, Tim Graham said the

choice was clear and the report justified calls to protect the tallest

hardwood forests in the world from " logging madness " .

 

" Our choice is clear, " he said. " We can continue to plunder the Valley of

the Giants, inexorably destroying this world-class icon, or make a real

investment in our future by declaring a national park. "

 

Joan Masterman, operator of the successful Freycinet Experience Walks and

Friendly Beaches Lodge, said vision was needed in the tourism industry.

 

" Tasmania is not the Apple Isle any more but the Natural State and we have

to fight for it, " Ms Masterman said.

 

Former Derwent Valley mayor and tourism operator Tim Morris said logically

and economically tourism was the way forward for the valley.

 

" For too long we have been dependent on logging and the Royal Derwent

Hospital for jobs but both are shedding jobs and we need to take an

independent and serious look at our future, " he said.

 

The report says the Styx could attract 100,000 visitors a year, inject $8

million into the economy and create between 150 and 500 new jobs.

 

Deputy Premier Paul Lennon said the State Government recognised the value of

wilderness to tourism.

 

" The Government is committed to achieving the best of both worlds, 6000ha of

the Styx Valley is protected, the remainder contains $270 million of wood

resource and provides 63 direct jobs and countless indirect jobs.

 

" This is an example of how eco-tourism and forestry can work hand in hand, "

he said.

 

 

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